Strange and Curious Sects

Strange and Curious Sects I: John Frum (February 13, 2008) The strange and curious sect of John Frum, one of the largest surviving World War II Pacific “cargo cults,” whose adherents believe in a savior who will one day return bringing marvelous technology from across the ocean.

Strange and Curious Sects II: Jesus Malverde (April 4, 2008) The strange and curious sect of Jesus Malverde, a mythical Robin Hood figure who is believed to do miracles on behalf of drug smugglers from the impoverished Mexican state of Sinaloa.

Strange and Curious Sects IV: The Millerites (December 10, 2008) The strange and curious sect of the Millerites, an 19th-century Christian group that believed the end of the world was imminent, and which has given rise to multiple modern Christian denominations.

Strange and Curious Sects V: Koreshanity (March 30, 2009) The strange and curious sect of the Prophet Koresh, a Civil War-era eccentric who believed that the Earth is hollow and humanity is living on the inside surface.

Strange and Curious Sects VI: Raelism (July 29, 2009) The strange and curious sect of Raelism, a UFO cult founded by a French race-car driver who believes that life on Earth was created by alien biologists, and who wants us to clone ourselves so as to follow in our creators’ footsteps.

Strange and Curious Sects VII: Asatru (November 4, 2009) The strange and curious sect of Asatru, a modern religion that’s resurrected belief in the ancient Germanic pagan gods such as Odin and Thor.

Strange and Curious Sects X: David Koresh (July 13, 2011) The strange and curious sect of the Branch Davidians, who continue to revere their child-molesting messiah David Koresh many years after his ignominious and violent death.

Adam Lee of Daylight Atheism

Adam Lee is an atheist writer and speaker living in New York City. He created Daylight Atheism to push back against undeserved privileging of religion and to encourage atheists to step out of their closets, into the daylight, and take our rightful place at the table of society’s discourse.